WARM COFFEE
	by Karl Kindt IV
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Copyrighted © 1999 by Karl Kindt IV | Published digitally 17 April 2000

"You need a warm-up, sir?"

Although it was already on the far side of the table from the waitress, Rich slid his coffee mug even further away from her. With his free hand, he put his palm up toward her.

"Not yet. Thanks."

With wide, hopeful eyes she turned to Alec.

"You, sir?"

Alec slid his mug to the edge of the table near her.

"Sure. Fill'er up."

Her smile grew as she poured the steaming black coffee into Alec's mug until it almost reached the lip.

"You boys let me know if there's anything else I can get you, all right?" She turned on her sneaker's heel and headed up the row between the empty booths.

Rich shook his head.

"Did you see that?"

"See what?" Alec asked.

Rich tilted his head forward in the direction the waitress had walked.

"Her--trying to fill my mug."

"So. That's what she's paid to do."

"No, she is not. She's paid to wait on me."

Alec shrugged. "And she's doing it by refilling your coffee, isn't she?"

"Not if I don't want it refilled, she isn't. Did you see the look she gave me?"

Alec looked back over his shoulder to see if he could spot the waitress, but he could not find her.

"Just now?"

"No. When I told her I didn't want a refill yet."

"What do you mean 'yet'?"

After rotating his half-filled mug so he could pick it up with his right hand, Rich lifted it to his mouth and sipped audibly.

"What I mean is I don't want hot coffee. Nobody wants hot coffee. Hot coffee burns the skin off the roof of your mouth."

"So, just tell her."

"I did," Rich said with a raised pitch. "Did you see the look I got? Like I slapped her in the face. If you hadn't let her fill you up, she probably would have cried or screamed at us."
Alec shook his head. "All you have to do is tell her. Don't make such a big deal out of it."

"Sure." Rich's lips thinned into a smile. "I'm the customer, and just because I want my coffee to be a drinkable temperature, I'm the one making a big deal--"

Alec looked up over Rich's shoulder and saw the waitress. Rich caught the glance and noticed her just as she reached in front of him with her coffeepot. He stuck out his hand over the mouth of his mug just as the waitress began pouring.

"Ouch! Damn it!"

Rich pulled his hand back to his chest and covered it with the other. Coffee splattered around his mug, and the waitress pulled back her pot.

"I'm sorry, sir. I'm sorry. I didn't see your hand there. I am so sorry."

She pulled a hand towel from her apron and dabbed at the spilled coffee in front of him.

"It's okay."

"Your coffee is on me, sir. I can't believe I did that. Please forgive me."

"That's all right."

"Can I get you some ice or anything?"

"No, no. I'm okay. It's no big deal. Thank you."

She turned to Alec and asked, "You need a warm-up, sir?"

Alec pulled his mug closer to him and slowly shook his head.

"No, thanks. I'm good."

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